We all knew it was coming, Nikon have been counting down the minutes until the launch on their website and this morning the news is out. Nikon have revealed details of their brand new DSLR - the Nikon D80. At ThinkCamera we had a hands on sneak preview before the launch and got to try out the camera - read on to find out what the big deal is.
So what's new?
I'll break this one straight away - nothing earth shattering. There isn't a single feature we could find on the D80 that isn't on some camera somewhere right now. But, and it's a big but, they add up to a package that is a very attractive camera. Nikon were very forthright in their presentation - they expect this camera to be their biggest seller this year and are putting a huge emphasis on the package as a whole rather than any one killer feature.
The specs
The rumours were true, the Nikon D80 will use secure digital (SD) cards rather than the compact flash cards used by the D70, D200 and their professional range. The feeling is that with the announcement of SDHC which allows for cards of up to 32GB (4GB cards will be available very soon) there are no longer and real objections to the SD format.
Of course the camera sports an F mount. With around 35 million Nikon lenses in the market it would have been silly to change (though read on for details of two new lenses to be launched with the Nikon D80). There's a new sensor. It has 10.2 million pixels (like the Nikon D200 and the Sony Alpha 100) but it has been designed specially for the D80. There has been a couple of nips and tucks on the body (enter button becomes and OK button and moves a little, the body is slightly thinner than previous Nikons for improved grip and a couple of buttons have moved around).
Interestingly some features have migrated up from the consumer range and some have migrated down from the heavyweight cameras such as the D200 and the professional D2 series. From the consumer range are some new slideshow options and some extremely clever anti red eye software (see below for more on this). From the heavyweight range are an 11 area autofocus system SIMILAR to that on the D200 but using the lower spec CAM1000 module but with a new switchable wide frame centre focusing area. There is also a 420 pixel RGB exposure meter and the software algorithms to calculate exposure that have proved so successful in the Nikon D2X and D200.
The camera is clearly built for speed. Start up is an extremely respectable 0.18 seconds but with a battery that provides more than 2,600 shots per charge many users may decide not to turn the camera off all day. This is especially true if you buy the optional grip which takes two EN-EL3e batteries and provides enough power for more than 5 thousand shots from a single charge. There's also improved feedback on the battery level (similar to the highly accurate fuel gauge on the D2X). Rather ominously Nikon mentioned that special software in the camera will stop you from using potentially unsafe batteries. This is a great idea if it is in the name of safety - let's hope that this will not stop users buying perfectly good third party batteries at a reduced cost.
A lot of thought has also gone into the usability of the camera. This is reflected in the user customisable My Menu system - you can show or hide various bits of the menu depending on your needs. Small tweaks to the menu colours make them easier to read and the method of zooming into a playback picture has been simplified - and enhanced. You can now zoom in for an amazing level of detail. There are also plentiful slideshow options both with and without background music.
Some features that we haven't seen before in a DSLR from Nikon include limited editing within the camera. You can crop pictures after the shot and remove red eye from menu options. You can overlay up to 3 pictures and also use Nikon's excellent D-lighting to lift shadow detail all without leaving the camera. There's also a black and white shooting mode as well as sepia and cyanotypes. Interestingly you can tune the sepia and cyanotypes yourself so if you find Nikon's idea of sepia a little too ornagey then you can set it how you like. There's more emphasis on getting print ready pictures without using an editor and although it's unlikely that a lot of people will use the full editing facilities, it's nice to see the features here.
As you'd expect from Nikon, the D80 is compatible with pretty much everything they currently make. You have full access to the creative lighting system which allows you to use multiple wireless flashguns in TTL mode, the new macro flash, dozens of Nikon lenses and of course Capture NX and PictureProject. Talking of flash, the Nikon D80 will sync up to 1/200s. This is somewhat down from the D70S's 1/500s but since the D80 starts at ISO 100 and the D70S starts at ISO 200 in practise the difference will be small. At the top of the range the D80 will go up to ISO 1600 as well as Hi-0.3, Hi-0.7 and Hi which are approximately equivalent to ISO 2200, 2700 and 3200. Of course Nikon is promising less noise than any previous camera they have made.
The lenses
Nikon are also launching two new lenses with the D80.
The first is the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-f5. 6G IF-ED. Yeah, another contender for longest lens name ever. There are few more details on this lens and I wasn't able to handle one when I tried out the D80. It should be a useful length for a travel zoom and is small and lightweight.
Much more interesting is the AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300 f/4.4-5.6G IF-ED. At last, a sensibly priced long lens with VR from Nikon! The image stabilisation is the enhanced VR II, which should allow the lens to be used shake free at speeds 4 stops slower than normal. If we've done our sums right then with good technique most people should be able to hold this at full zoom at an amazing 1/30s rather than the usually recommended 1/500s.
Yes, but what's it like?
This is a really tricky one because the brief time I had with the Nikon D80 only allowed me to make a subjective view of it. I walked out of the presentation and thought hmm, yeah, nice ideas but nothing to get people flocking to the shops. Then I picked one up - it feels like a proper camera. Weight seems about right and it has a solid feel and everything seems to me sensibly laid out. (In the interests of full disclosure I'd better remind you that I have used a variety of Nikon DSLRs for years.) It's obvious to compare it with the Sony Alpha 100 and I handled my Sony before and after the Nikon D80 - the D80 just has a better feel to it.
I had a very brief time to take some shots with the D80 (and I wasn't allowed to bring them away with me). The best test I could think of was to shove it in people's faces, pop up the flash and shoot on full auto. Quite simply I was amazed. Shooting at very close range I was pleased to see the camera giving a great exposure every time. Then I looked closely at the images. They had lots of detail even from the kit lens but what surprised me most was the complete lack of red eye - and without any of those visible pre flashes or bright lights. I tried it on people with brown, blue and grey eyes - no red eye at all. This isn't a new trick for a camera (lots of Coolpixs have red eye reduction software) but I have never seen it working so well in a DSLR.
We won't know if Nikon have managed to make a much better camera from the large collection of small improvements until we can get a review model and put it through its paces in jpeg and raw and in mixed lighting conditions. My guess based on what I have seen so far is that they just might have.
We say
Everyone is going to compare the Nikon D80 to the Sony Alpha 100. The Nikon lacks the built in image stabilisation and anti dust trickery of the Sony and many users may choose their camera based on this alone. It would have been great to see Nikon include at least one of these technologies within the D80.
I said at the start that there's nothing earth shattering about the feature list BUT they all add up to a very exciting camera. Built in D-lighting and anti red eye software that works should deliver excellent jpegs and there is always Nikon's raw format ("nef") if you demand more post shot control. It is again disappointing that full raw editing software isn't included with the bundle - there's PictureProject and a [b]trial[/b] of Capture NX. When questioned on this, Nikon replied that they charge for Capture NX "because it's worth it".
If you are looking for a mid range DSLR and don't have any great investment in one brand then I would suggest you don't rush out and buy anything until you have tried the Sony Alpha 100 and the Nikon D80. Both seem very capable cameras with a different emphasis. Of course you'll also want to check out whatever Canon launch at Photokina (they are due for an overhaul of the 350D if not the 30D) and it's no secret that Fuji have an S4 on the horizon to replace their respected but aging S3. Exciting times. Of course we'll be running in depth tests here at ThinkCamera just as soon as review models are available.
Prices and availability
The Nikon D80, the Nikkor 70 - 300 AF-S VR and Nikkor AF-S DX 18 - 135 should all be available in September. Interestingly there will be demonstration models in some stores earlier than that. Nikon promised that they are building stock already and will be able to meet demand.
RRPs are as follows:
Nikon D80 (body only) £699
Nikon D80 + 18-70 lens £899
Nikon D80 + 18-135 lens £949
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED £299
AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED £399
Remember that these are RRP - realistically I'd be very surprised if this camera doesn't go toe to toe with the Sony Alpha on price. I'd guess the Nikon D80 will end up slightly more expensive than the Alpha with Nikon laying heavy emphasis on the quality of the system as a whole.
Nikon also confirmed that the D80 will replace the D70s. Expect the D70s to disappear from the shops around Christmas time so if you want one then now is an excellent time to buy!
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